In Copenhagen the municipality from 1902 made a grant of 25,000 kr. (about L1,400) to the "Society for Providing Meals to Free School Children," the voluntary contributions to which were rapidly diminishing. This society, though a voluntary organisation, was directly connected with the municipality, its Executive Board consisting of the seven municipal school inspectors and four private gentlemen, while the municipal school director was _ex officio_ president. More than half the total expenditure was met out of the municipal subsidy, the balance being made up by voluntary contributions. Dinners were given three days a week to all the children in the free schools who wished to attend. No charge was made and no question raised as to the economic circumstances of the parents. About 33 per cent. of the total number of free school children availed themselves of this provision.[635] Footnote 635: _The Feeding of School Children in Continental and American Cities_, 1906, pp. 3, 5, 7. (i) Norway Christiania was the first town in Norway to make municipal provision for underfed school children. The system was started in 1897. A proposal was made to distribute food free to all elementary school children, but this was, at the time, rejected. In the winter of 1897-8, applications were made on behalf of 25.92 per cent. of the pupils in the school, the great majority of the meals being given free.[636] The children made such marked progress as a result of this experiment that the system was extended and in Christiania and several other towns a good dinner was provided by the school authorities for all school children who cared to attend, the entire cost of the system being met by taxation.[637] It was soon found that the advantages of this free provision outweighed the expense. At Trondhjem, when the proposal was first made by the Socialists, it was bitterly opposed, but by 1906 the system was unanimously supported by all sections.[638] Footnote 636: London School Board, Report on Underfed Children attending School, 1899, p. 268; _School Feeding_, by Louise S. Bryant, 1913, p. 145. Footnote 637: _The Bitter Cry of the Children_, by John Spargo, 1906, pp. 114-115, 275. Footnote 638: _Ibid._, p. 276. (j) Sweden In many towns in Sweden schemes for feeding poor school children were started in the 'eighties, these voluntary schemes being later subsidised by the local authorities.[639] Footnote 639: _School Feeding_, by Louise S. Bryant, 1913, pp. 143-4.